We give you opportunity
About Our Network
The Game Therapy Network is a platform that’s connects individuals with practitioners, organisations, and businesses who provide therapeutic support in the form of positive, inclusive and therapeutic gaming.
Game Therapists join recreational therapy and art therapy to benefit people in all stages of life with community integration and social support as the goal.
For a list of our services (and legal requirements) and how best to contact a Game Therapist who suits you, follow this link: Game Therapy Services.
Click the Games On Offer tab for a complete listing of games from Game Therapists in this network, or click on a Game Therapists Name to see the games they have access to.
The Game Therapy directory lists the board games, table top games, card games, role-playing games and games in general that the Game Therapists involved in this network have access to: and on short notice can play with you (no matter your circumstance.)
Each page in The Game Therapy Directory lists the game and the rules in both written and video form. To come will be tutorials on how to play and what to watch out for when learning the games when you are both player and instructor.
We can even organise group-play to build your network of game playing friends.
To further this end The Game Spaces Directory uses a geo-location function to find inclusive game stores, hobby stores, public places and therapeutic gaming practitioners near you.
Please note : We are not an organisation, association, or company in our own right.
Working with :
Mable (formerly Better Caring)
Aspergers Victoria
Banyule Council
Austin Health
Department of Health and Human Services
Carinya Society
The Victorian State Education Department
And more!
Game Spaces
Games on Offer
Numbers League
A Superhero themed math based standalone card game for ages 8 and up. Villains lurk in the streets of Infinity City and the only hope is the Numbers League. Assemble…
Portobello Market
London, 1901. At the world famous Portobello Market, the goal in the morning is to secure the best places to build stalls. Try to place your stalls in the most lucrative…
Pirates of the 7 Seas
Pirates of the 7 Seas is an innovative, fast and competitive board game full of events from everyday pirate life: plundering, old maps, and horrible gigantic krakens. Adventures, new ports…
Otys
Mid-22nd century, after 300 years of unconsciousness, the water rising engulfs the last emerged lands. Fighting for their lives, the survivor’s settlements must remain above the sea level. You live…
Odin’s Ravens
Every morning Odin sends his ravens, Huginn and Muninn, across the entire world to bring back news of what life is like on Earth. Naturally, after thousands of years, they’ve…
Relevant Posts
Cerebral Palsy (CP) affects movement, muscle tone, and posture due to early brain development differences.
Cerebral Palsy can range from mild to complex, but every form influences how a person interacts with physical space. Roleplaying games can offer a stunning escape from physical limitation. Players…
When an older adult is living with Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), diversional therapy points us to recreation that supports cognition, social engagement and identity continuity.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) & Purposeful Game Play Tabletop games and online gaming have shown real promise in this domain. Research indicates older adults trained with video games improved cognitive…
When mobility, dexterity or fatigue are part of a teen’s lived experience (for example, cerebral palsy), the right board games and session design can make social play therapeutic and joyful
I write program goals that emphasise participation, accessibility and self-efficacy: adaptive components (large-print cards, card holders, simplified setup), shorter play blocks with clear breaks, and roles that let everyone contribute…
A Scoping Review of Tabletop Role-Playing Game (TTRPG) as Psychological Intervention: Potential Benefits and Future Directions
Abstract (link to paper at end of article) Purpose The present study aimed to investigate how prior research of TTRPG revealed the benefits of TTRPG as a psychological intervention and…
I left my school can’t group on a cliffhanger today
“Well, them Duke boys are at it again. Looks like they’re about to take a shortcut… the hard way!” I left my #schoolcant group on a #cliffhanger today – attacked…
Schizophrenia involves changes in how someone perceives and interprets reality, often through hallucinations or disorganized thinking.
Schizophrenia can deeply affect social engagement and self-confidence. Tabletop roleplaying games provide structure within creativity—rules that give safety and stories that allow exploration. A person can channel imagination into shared…
Loneliness & Social Isolation in Older Age: Gaming as Connection
Though not a single disease, the issue of social isolation and loneliness in older adults is a major health concern — linked to higher morbidity, depression and cognitive decline. Diversional…
Gaming Therapy excluded from NDIS
With the changes to the #NDIS in #Australia (yes, we exist), I thought it’s about time to return to posting studies on the #beneficial effects of #games here. 1. Bowman,…
When arthritis (especially in hands, wrists, knees) sets in, older adults often withdraw from hobbies that require fine motor or large movements.
Arthritis & Cooperative Tabletop Sessions Diversional therapy means choosing recreation that accommodates those limitations while still fostering social involvement and fun. Cooperative board games and online play are excellent. Choose…
Wargames and skirmish systems teach planning, negotiation, and shared rituals — useful social scaffolds for teens who are neurotypical and neurodivergent alike.
In therapeutic terms, wargaming supports executive function (planning, sequencing), perspective-taking (anticipating opponent moves), and routine building (regular club nights). Popular titles and systems trend on BoardGameGeek and include games with…
Start Playing Games as an avenue for Work Experience
I’m excited to announce that I’ve joined www.startplaying.games as a Game Master! While my passion has always been helping people through therapeutic recreation, I’m stepping into the world of professional…
Some friendly banter ensued
In this #gametherapy session, the companions Asragon ( #halfling #rogue ) and Jeffsmith (one word, #human #druid ) awakened in a #mysterious #dungeon as #captives of the #catfolk . After escaping, they took a #quick #dip in a crusty old #gelatinouscube where they discovered a #posh orc looting bodies! A #friendly enough #fellow, Sir asked…
Female Dungeon Master Required
I’m looking for (client request) an assigned female at birth (AFAB) support worker who is able to run TTRPG games like Dungeons and Dragons 5e, Pathfinder 2e, etc, etc. Melbourne,…
A Study on the Efficacy of the Tabletop Roleplaying Game Dungeons & Dragons forImproving Mental Health and Self-Concepts in a Community Sample
Abstract (link to paper at end of article)Tabletop gaming has seen a rise in popularity over the past ten years, with an influx ofinterest following the Coronavirus pandemic. Limited research…
I have one more slot in my School Can’t program for Aspergers Victoria… Thursday afternoons 12pm to 3pm on Zoom and Discord. I never enforce cameras on and I work…
Cellulose : A Plant Cell Biology Game led by an autistic biology graduate
Recently got this incredible game to a #neurodivergent table. Holding the game in the first photo is one of our #livedexperience Dungeon Masters , Elodie. Elodie also holds a Bachelor…
Mindful roleplaying games
I have multiple small group telehealth availabilities for the school holidays on Wednesdays and Thursdays starting at 10am and reaching into the evening. Mindful roleplaying games (dungeons and dragons, pathfinder,…
slots open for recreational therapy
I have slots open for 1:1 clients Tuesday 3.00pm to 5pm; Thursday 3.30pm to 5.30pm; and Friday 4pm to 6pm. I offer recreational therapy to adults and children with the…
Spring School Holiday DND program
I am Aspergers Victoria (volunteer) membership coordinator, so if you need any extra information about this program please let me know.
A critical hit: Dungeons & Dragons as a buff for autistic people
In “A critical hit: Dungeons & Dragons as a buff for autistic people”, Atherton and colleagues explore how tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) can be a…
Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) involves low mental energy, daydreaming, and slow information processing.
Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) isn’t the same as ADHD, though it often overlaps. Many with SCT feel foggy or left behind in fast-paced environments. Roleplaying games slow the world to…
Older adults with Age‑related macular degeneration (AMD) or vision impairment may feel excluded from many leisure activities.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration & Inclusive Game Play Diversional therapy invites us to think adaptively: can the game be matched to their abilities, can online play reduce physical barriers, can we…
Online tabletop platforms are not just convenient — they can be clinical tools for teens recovering from stroke or brain injury.
From a recreational therapy perspective, online play supports graded return to social participation, cognitive retraining (memory, attention), and energy conservation (shorter, paced sessions). Studies show digital gaming can decrease loneliness…
Social skills training with a tabletop role-playing game, before and during the pandemic of 2020: in-person and online group sessions
Abstract (link to paper at end of article) Background: The area of social skills is broad, in theory and in practice. For social skills training, various clinical practices have been applied…
EOI: Pathfinder 2e adult game
Looking for early expressions of interest for a tabletop roleplaying group (Pathfinder 2e remastered) in Doreen for young adults 19-25 that would be open to beginners. This would be an…
Seeking: Applied Game Master in Eastern Suburbs
I’m looking to subcontract (refer clients) to a nice professional game master, who has an understanding of disability issues, and would be available in the eastern and southeastern suburbs of…
EOI: Pathfinder 2e In person game
Looking for early expressions of interest for a tabletop roleplaying group (Pathfinder 2e remastered) in Doreen for young adults 19-25 that would be open to beginners. This would be an…
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) makes it tricky to interpret sounds and spoken words, even if hearing is normal.
Auditory Processing Disorder and background noise can turn conversations into confusion, affecting learning and friendships. Tabletop roleplaying games offer a quieter, more focused social space. With structured turns and visible…
Older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic lung conditions often have limited stamina, need controlled pacing and benefit from meaningful social recreation that doesn’t overtax physical capacity.
COPD & Leisure Gaming for Breath-Friendly Social Time As diversional therapists we recommend leisure that is seated, social, paced and mentally stimulating — and tabletop/online gaming fits the brief. Select…
Cooperative Games as Community Builders (useful for teens with schizophrenia)
Cooperative tabletop games give teens a shared mission: they win or lose together. For young people with a diagnosis such as schizophrenia, these shared goals reduce adversarial dynamics, lower stigma…